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Reclusive snake finally coaxed from Victoria storm drain

Officials thought the elusive snake might have been a boa constrictor.

A City of Victoria worker holds the snake after it was removed from the drain. (City of Victoria/Twitter)

By The Canadian Press

Fri., Aug. 26, 2016

VICTORIA—A reclusive reptile that has been living in a storm drain below the streets of Victoria now has a new home.

A tweet posted Thursday night by the City of Victoria shows a city worker holding the snake.

Officials haven’t said how it was coaxed out of the drain, but the tweet said it would be turned over to animal control officers.

When it was spotted in the drain during routine maintenance last week, experts said it appeared to be a nearly two-metre long harmless corn snake, but a closer look at the photo released Thursday night shows it may be a boa constrictor.

It originally rebuffed all efforts at capture, including a heated tube and offerings of dead mice, because it was shedding its skin.

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Officials didn’t want to harm it or tear up the street, so the pipe was sealed until the moulting was complete and the snake was more co-operative.

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